Soldiers and art

Through Resource Shelf I learned about this exhibit called the Art of the American Soldier going on at the National Constitution Center. The online gallery gives an amazing peek into the act of dealing with war through making art about it. The images offer a wide range of perspectives from the comedy of cartoons to the stark image of a realistic bandaged face. Dating from 1910 to 2010, this one hundred year span of art is quite startling.

It's no secret that art can help people. Making art can be more than just expressive; it can be necessary to who we are, in whatever moment we are dealing with. Take a look at the American Art Therapy Association for what's going on in the news and research about art therapy.

What to do if Delicious disappears

If you haven't heard-Yahoo! is trying to get rid of its popular bookmarking site Delicious. And, like the article says, people are freaking out. This worries me, as I rely on it to a handle on what I see on the web (see my linkroll). According to the Delicious blog, they're not disappearing. They're looking for a buyer. If you're like me, you take some tech news with a grain of salt.

Here's a short article on 5 Delicious Alternatives. It can't help to be prepared.

National Archives Site Redesign

Take a look at the National Archives and Records Administration Site! The redesign is fabulous! It looks clean and friendly.

Consumer Trends!

Take a look through trendwatching.com's list of Consumer Trends for 2011. They include several predictions toward giving and social consumerism. In general, I see these trends as quite positive, even for libraries. I'm all for large economic powers giving back to not just their local communities, but the global community too.

Consumers are becoming more and more web-social savvy and putting in their two cents on a service or product. Not only does this create community, it also creates a certain level of accountability on the part of the manufacturer. You can't hide from a bad review that everyone is reading.

Also included are trends toward the demand for green products and products that help us live better. The list is quite interesting! Check it out!